Begich Statement for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Remembrance Day

Sen. Mark Begich released the following statement in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Remembrance Day 2013, which will be celebrated on January 21, 2013.

“As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, we remember that his teachings have never been more important as we struggle to find common ground in government and in our public lives.

“And as we visualize the National Mall at the Washington Monument and Capitol filled with thousands of Americans who gathered to witness Dr. King’s most famous speech during that hot summer of 1963, “I have a Dream,” we realize that today, nearly half a century later, Dr. King’s dream is needed more than ever in our country.

“We all know of Dr. King’s dream of civil rights for all. This week, his approach – of thoughtful dialogue and peaceful debate – should serve as a lesson for our entire country.

“I believe that as we mark Dr. King’s birthday this weekend, we must take a hard look at how we engage in political discourse in this country – to reassess how we can disagree and still move forward.

“I believe we can agree to the need for more civility. We can truly listen to other points of view. Study the facts just a moment longer before starting to yell.

“I can think of no better model than Dr. King. Two important words were always part of his vocabulary: respect and nonviolence.

“Today as we wrestle with the many serious issues that face Congress and the nation, we all need to remember those two words: respect and nonviolence. There is no better way to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”